Actor Lee Jang-woo has been spotted in the countryside once again. It's reported that MBC's representative local entertainment program "Village Lee Jang-woo" has confirmed its season 2 airing for this upcoming second half of the year.
"Village Lee Jang-woo" is a program showing actor Lee Jang-woo melting into a rural village, filling quiet spaces with laughter and stories alongside local elders, and striving for community revitalization.
Last year, Lee Jang-woo mingled with village residents for a year in Kimje, North Jeolla Province, transforming an abandoned brewery into a "hot place." Throughout this process, he helped cultivate rice alongside elders from Kimje's countryside and served delicious food he made himself, deeply integrating into the village. His sincere demeanor captivated viewers, providing ample laughter and emotion.
In particular, during season 1, the program reached a peak viewership rating of 7.9% (households) and 3.0% (ages 20-49), breaking the highest ratings for its time slot from the first episode. It also demonstrated resilience by expanding its format for the Lunar New Year special. After the broadcast, the population visiting Kimje significantly increased, and the brewery touched by Lee Jang-woo continues to be bustling, injecting vitality into the local commerce. In this process, Kimje City was recognized for its contributions to community revitalization, receiving the Prime Minister's award at the "Population Decline Response Best Case Competition," further proving the influence of "Village Lee Jang-woo."
In this way, "Village Lee Jang-woo," which contributed to revitalizing the local economy, will now depart for the revitalization of the Ganghwa region. Although it is just an hour away from Seoul, Ganghwa Island is a natural haven with rice paddies, mudflats, and the sea viewable at a glance. It is said that Lee Jang-woo's culinary passion ignited in Ganghwa, which is full of seasonal ingredients.
Ahead of the season 2 airing, it has been reported that there will be a special pop-up event on August 30, marking the official start of "Village Lee Jang-woo" season 2. At this pop-up, Lee Jang-woo will present treasure recipes crafted with the finest culinary artisans of Ganghwa. It will be a special time to taste a spread of Ganghwa treasures made from seasonal dishes while enjoying the beautiful scenery of Ganghwa. Since this gathering will showcase a variety of seasonal ingredients from Ganghwa, it is expected to enhance anticipation for season 2 and serve as a signal for the Ganghwa community revitalization project.
Those who want to be among the first to experience a treasure-like feast created with seasonal ingredients from Ganghwa can apply for the pop-up through the MBC "Village Lee Jang-woo" season 2 website.
Meanwhile, as the scale has grown larger and the depth of the story has deepened, the arrival of special guests has been announced, raising expectations. Viewers can look forward to a new chemistry with Lee Jang-woo that has not been seen before, as they uncover hidden stories across Ganghwa and support his community revitalization efforts.
Returning with an even richer narrative, MBC's "Village Lee Jang-woo" season 2 will premiere in the second half of this year.
[Photo] OSEN DB, provided by MBC
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